Improvement in fifth-wheel for carriages



J. A. PECK.

Fifth Wheel.

Patented Nov. 23, 1869.

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page Gltflflitn.

J. A. PEOK, OF

TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WILLIAM L. WHITE, JR, OFSAME PLAOF.

Lciters Patent N 97,111, dated November 23, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIFTH-WHEEL FOR CARRIAGl-BS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, J. A. PECK, of Taunton, in the county of Bristol, andState of Massachusetts, have invented a new. Improvement; in Filth-Wheelfor Carriages; and Idoherebydeclare the following, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, and the. letters of referencemarked thereon, ,to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, andrepresent, in-

Figuuel, a side view; I

Figure .2, a top view; and in Figure 3, a rear view, enlarged, showingthe kingbolt.

This invention relates- First, to an improvement in the circle betweenthe axle and carriage-rocker, known as the fifth-wheel, and

Secondly, to an improvement in the bolt, which secures the partstogether, known as the kingbolt.

Heretofore, the fifth-wheel of carriages has been formed fromwrought-metal, which is an expensive construction, and requires agreatdeal of fitting, in order to work perfectly.

1\ly inrcnlion, by which these difficulties are over.- comc,and afifth-wheel equally as good produced, con. sists in forming the circlesof wood, and plating their meeting-surfaces with metal.

The object otthe second part of my invention is, to overcome theliability of the loosening of the kingbolt, which causes the same torattle and loosen the parts of the carriage; and to accomplish thisobject, I place beneath the nuts, upon the two ends of the bolt, awasher, of India rubber or other elastic material, upon which the nutsare turned, to bind the parts together.

To enable others to construct and use my improvement, I willfullydescribe the same, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

A is the axle;

B, the rocker;

O, the'pole or connection for the shafts;

D, the upper circle; and

crly bcntand plated is, to all' intents and purposes,

equally as good, as to wear aml strength.

The circles are secured to their respective parts inthe usual or in anyconvenient manner. I would re-- mark that the lower circle may be madein two parts, as it is not essential that the circle bear entirelyaround.

In adjusting the king-bolt, which binds the circles together, it isdii'licult to iix the nuts so that the operation of the circle will heas perfectas it should be,

inasmuch as there is no elasticity in any part of the bolt, and'thecircles will tit either too tight or too loose, and the jar, which isoccasioned by placing metal to metal, oltentimcs loosens the nut,causing'a rattling oi the parts, and an increased wear upon thetii'th-wheel.

To obviate these ditiiculties,'larrange the king-l'nolt Fin the usualmanner, but phwe'bcncath the outer nuts I) and (I, a washer or collar,(l, of India rubber, and turn the nuts down sullicicntly hard thereon tohold the parts lizmly together, the India rubber being suliicicntlyelastic toallow the free movement of the lii'th-whecl.

Having, thcrcfin'c, thus fully described my invention,

What. I claim as new aml useful, aml desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The fifth-wheel of a carriage, composed of acoutinuous strip of wood,bent into a circle, or an arc oi'a circle, when the same, or itsbearing-bed or support, is plated with hardened steel, or itsequivalent.

J. A. PECK Witnesses:

J. H. SHUMWAY, A. J. TIBBITS.-

